Comparing Bag Manufacturers: How MOQ and Printing Options Really Differ

When you compare bag manufacturers, the numbers that look easiest to compare, the minimum order quantity and the printing options, are the ones that most often mean different things from one quote to the next. A supplier with a lower MOQ is not necessarily cheaper to work with, and "custom printing available" can cover anything from a one-colour logo to a full-colour all-over pattern.

This guide explains how to put quotes on the same footing: what an MOQ is counted against, what each common print method actually suits, and which questions to ask so that two suppliers answer the same question.

"MOQ" can mean five different things

A single number in a quote hides a definition. Before you compare, find out which of these the supplier means.

For reference, our own terms are: samples from 1 piece, and bulk orders from 200 pieces per design and colourway. We state it that way because a four-colour range of one style is four sets of 200, and a buyer should see that before the quote, not after. Our guide to MOQ in custom bag manufacturing explains why the minimum exists and how it changes by product.

A lower number is not automatically better. A very low MOQ per colour can come with a higher unit price, a smaller choice of fabric or a longer wait. Compare the full price for the quantity you actually plan to order, not the headline minimum.

Printing options: what each method suits

"We can print your logo" is not one capability. The common methods behave differently, and the right one depends on your artwork and your fabric. The table below is a general guide; what a given factory can do varies, so confirm each method against your own artwork.

On our drawstring bags, for example, the choice that comes up most is between screen printing and sublimation. Screen printing is more economical for a simple one- or two-colour logo; sublimation prints edge to edge in full colour but only on polyester. The detail is in our drawstring and sports bags page.

Match the method to the fabric first

A common mistake is to pick the artwork first and discover later that the method does not suit the fabric. As a rule, decide the fabric and the print method together:

• Cotton canvas takes screen printing well, but it cannot be sublimated.
• Polyester can be screen printed or sublimated, which is why it is the usual choice for all-over designs.
• Coated or laminated fabrics limit the choices: check that the print method will adhere to the coating and survive flexing.
• Textured natural materials are usually better with a label or patch than with a printed logo.

Whichever method you choose, ask which methods the factory runs in-house and which it sends out to a subcontractor. Work that leaves the factory adds time and one more party responsible for the result.

Questions that make quotes comparable

Send the same short list to every supplier, and insist on written answers to each point. The goal is that every quote is built on the same assumptions.

1. What is the MOQ counted against: order, style, colour, print design or fabric lot?
2. How many print colours or print positions does the quoted price include?
3. Which print method is used, and is it done in-house?
4. Is the sample made with the same method as the bulk order?
5. What artwork format do you need, and who prepares the separations?
6. Is the sample cost refundable against an order, and in what circumstances?
7. From what event does the lead time start: payment, sample approval or artwork approval?
8. Which inspection standard applies before shipment, and can the level be set by the buyer?

Question 4 matters more than it looks. If the sample is produced digitally and the bulk order is screen printed, the sample tells you very little about the bulk result. Our guide to sample development and fees covers what a sample should and should not prove.

Red flags in a comparison

• An MOQ with no stated unit. If the quote does not say per what, ask before you compare.
• "Free printing" with no colour count. It usually means one colour in one position.
• Samples made differently from bulk. You cannot approve a result that will not be repeated.
• Lead times counted from different points. Fifteen days from payment and fifteen days from artwork approval are not the same promise.
• No answer to question 3. If a supplier cannot say who does the printing, you do not know who is accountable for it.

When you have the answers, turn them into one comparison sheet with the same columns for every supplier. The cost build-up behind each line is explained in what is actually in a bag quote. If you need to send a supplier a complete brief, use our tech pack template, and for the choice between supplying your own design and adapting an existing one, see private label vs white label.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does MOQ per colourway mean?

It means each colour of a style has its own minimum order. If a style comes in four colours and the MOQ is 200 pieces per colourway, the smallest order that includes all four is 800 pieces. Always check whether trim and lining colours count as separate colourways.

Is a lower MOQ always better?

No. A low minimum can come with a higher unit price, a narrower choice of fabric or a longer lead time. Compare the total price for the quantity you actually plan to buy, along with the delivery date and the quality controls, rather than the headline minimum.

Which print method is cheapest for a simple logo?

For a one- or two-colour logo on a flat panel, screen printing is usually the most economical. Costs rise as colours are added, so a full-colour or all-over design is usually better suited to sublimation on polyester.

Should the sample be printed the same way as the bulk order?

Yes, wherever possible. A sample made by a different method from the bulk order cannot be used to approve colour, detail or durability. Ask in writing which method the sample uses and whether it matches production.

What artwork files should I prepare?

Vector artwork, such as AI, EPS or PDF files with outlined text, is the safest format, along with Pantone references for colours that must match. Raster images can be used for some methods, but they limit the sharpness and the scalability of the result.